Newton G. Ash

NEWTON GRANT ASH was born in Pennsylvania on July 6, 1870 to Phineas Alexander Ash and his wife, the former Rachel Strong Irwin. He was named after his uncle, Newton L. Ash. The Phineas Ash family moved to New Jersey by 1875 and by the time of the 1880 Census enumeration included a sister, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Ash, and two brothers, Howard Ash and Samuel Ash. Phineas Ash worked as a machinist. The family lived at 267 Sycamore Street when the 1887–1888 and 1888–1889 City Directories were compiled, and had moved to 269 Sycamore Street in time for the 1890–1891 compilation.

After attending grade school in Camden, Newton G. Ash acquired a trade. He first appears in Camden City Directories in 1890. He was then living with his parents at 269 Sycamore Street and working as a shoemaker.

Sadly, older brother Howard passed away in 1894, and both Phineas and Rachel Ash died in 1896. Older sister Lizzie had married George Smith in the early 1880s; by 1900 Newton Ash was living with the Smiths and their children.

Newton Ash married Anna Durant around 1900. He took an interest in local politics as a member of the Tenth Ward Republican Club, which in 1904 nominated future police chief Arthur Colsey for City Council.

The 1906 City Directory shows Newton Ash working as a boilermaker and living at 646 Willard Street. Younger brother Samuel resided a few doors away, at 640 Willard Street. Samuel Ash and his wife Susan later moved to Cramer Hill. Samuel Ash passed away in 1928, his wife in 1933.

By 1910 Newton G. Ash had joined the Camden Fire Department. He had already or quite soon after learned to drive motor vehicles. When the Department acquired motorized apparatus, Newton Ash was among the first drivers, working at Engine Company 2. By 1909, he and his wife Anne were living at 636 North 8th Street in North Camden, and were at that time childless. They were living at 636 North 8th Street as late as 1924. By 1927 Newton and Anna Ash had moved to Cramer Hill, where they resided at 840 North 30th Street. Newton Ash was still employed as a fire fighter as late as 1947. He was still living at 840 North 30th Street as late as the fall of 1956.

Newton Grant Ash later moved to Westville NJ. He passed away on October 28, 1958 and was buried at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken, New Jersey.

Importance of neighborhood business was stressed last night at an open air meeting sponsored by the Cramer Hill Businessmen’s association, at Veterans Park, Twenty-sixth street and Hayes avenue. Businessmen of the section were praised in brief talks by Mayor Frederick von Nieda, Mayor Joseph H. Van Meter, Collingswood, and Joshua C. Haines, recorder of deeds.

Prizes were awarded to Mrs. Newton Ash, 840 North Thirtieth street, electric refrigerator; Walter Conine, 1809 River avenue, radio, and George Blanck, 1026 North Twenty-first street, vacuum cleaner.

Officers of the association are Frederick Wolf, president; Charles Till, vice president; Richard Liebert, secretary and George Stiefel, treasurer. Trustees are: Edward Wenner, Joseph Till and Sylvester Onesty.